High strain rate and low temperature effects on the compressive behaviour of concrete

Abstract

Temperature and strain rate are important factors when considering the mechanical properties of engineering materials, as they can greatly influence the material behaviour. The research presented here is an experimental investigation to determine the effects of low temperatures and high strain rates on the compressive behaviour of concrete. The primary purpose of the research is the development of experimental stress–strain relationships under these conditions, as this is a largely unexplored research topic. Thirty-five 101.6 mm × 203.2 mm concrete cylinders were tested in uniaxial compression at the University of New Brunswick. The specimens were loaded either under static conditions or dynamically with an average strain rate of approximately 1 s⁻¹, while being exposed to temperatures from 20°C to −70°C to simulate extreme climatic temperature and those attainable within industrial storage facilities. The compression strain of the specimens was obtained using digital image correlation. The mechanical properties studied were the compressive strength, strain associated with the peak stress and general stress–strain behaviour due to the increased strain rate and temperature variations.